The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-02
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

Commissioner Colman Requests the Rail-
ways to Assist in Its Extirpatton.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, June 1.-Commissioner of Agri-
culture Colman to-day sent ont a circular letter
addressed to the managers of all railroads and
transportation companies in the United States,
urging their cooperation with the department in
preventing the spread of pleuro-pneumonia The
Commissioner in his circular, after calling at
tention to the fact that pleuro-pneumonia exists
among cattle IN Illinois, Maryland and New
York, says:
'.The existence of this contagious disease in
such important cattle centers these States is
a danger SO menacing to the cattle interests Of
these United States that it calls for the most
prompt thorough and energetic measures that
be taken, not only by the national govern
ment, but also by all parties interested in the
preservation Of the great cattle industry
class of persons are more inter-
ested in the safety and growth of
this industry than transportation mpsnies,
who derive a very large portion of their earnings
from the shipment of cattle and their products.
and none should be more active and energetic
in enforcing such measures as are necessary to
stamp out this desease and prevent its possible
spread. The insidious character OF this disease.
its easy and imperceptible propagation by con-
tact with animals having the germs Of disease
and giving no outward symptoms OF its presence;
the contraction of the plague from infected ears,
the spreading of the germs by meaus of manure
carried in uncleansed cars from place to place.
all make it matter of concern and render it
necessary that stringent measures should be
adopted to protect the cattle interests of the
country from this great evil
II have therefore, to suggest and to request
that all transportation companies shall establish
on their respective lines rule, and see that it
is rgdy enforced. that all cars that have car
ried live stock shall be thoroughly cleansed on
the discharging of their freight and not allowed
to leave the freight stockyards before this is
done. Also. that the cars shall be carefully dis
infected in the following manner: Remove all
litter and manure. wash the car with water
thoroughly saturare the walls and floors with q
solution made by dissolving four ounces of
chloride of lime to one gallon of water Stock
yards and pens should be cleansed and disin-
fected at least week. Transportation
trcts should require parties Offering cattle for
shipment to present at point of loading afhdavits
of the owner and two dsinterested persons
stating that the cattle to be shipped have not
been in any infected district, and have not come
in contact with cattle from infected districts.
These affdavits should be attached to and &C.
company the way bill to point of destination.
AS several very extensive outbreaks of pleuro-
pneumonia have recently been traced to cattle
that had been shipped from infected districts a
considerable distance by rail- the necessity of
these precautions cannot be over estimated, and
if enforced they would be material safeguard
against the spread of this disease"
Railroad companies, the Commissioner says.
can be of the greatest assistance to the Bureau
of Animal Industry in its work OF extlrparng
pleuro pneumonia, if they will cooperate With
it and assist in maintaining the rules and reRu-
lations prescribed April 10, 1887, and the
quarantine orders since made He closes his
circular by expressing the hope that this sup
port and assistance will be cordially given.